Drivetrains in GTA IV

In Grand Theft Auto 4, the way a car's drivetrain and engine are set up can have a drastic effect on occasions such as police chases and enemy gang wars (escaping, for example). This section will break down the different drivetrains along with the cars so you don't need to.

Front Wheel Drive

Front wheel drive (FWD) is when a car's engine power is channeled to the front wheels. FWD cars cost a lot less than other drivetrain types because of less moving parts. There are only a handful of FWD cars in GTA IV. In addition, front egine, front wheel drive (FF) cars tend to have understeer when accelerating mid-turn, because accelerating causes the weight of the vehicle to shift onto the rear axle, resulting in decreased acceleration and decreased steering ability.

Rear Wheel Drive

Rear wheel drive (RWD) is when a car's engine power is sent to the rear wheels. RWD cars tend to be more expensive because they tend to have higher horsepower and more moving parts. Front-engine, rear wheel drive (FR) drivetrain layouts are commonly used in drifting, other rear wheel drive configurations are used in oval racing, circuit racing and drag racing. There are a lot of RWD cars in GTA IV.

Four Wheel Drive/ All Wheel Drive

Four wheel drive/ All wheel drive (4WD/ AWD respectively) is when the engine power is transferred to all four wheels of a car. Acceleration is usually great but sometimes less than FWD cars because the model may have a lower power-to-mass ratio. Still, it provides great acceleration, great offroad capabilities, and the ability to climb rocks, walls, etc. GTA IV provides a decent amount of 4WD cars. Note that a few AWD cars may be unevenly torque distributed (e.g. 30% front, 70% rear). This will affect acceleration, handling and drifting capabilities. 4WD/ AWD is in theory the best drivetrain layout because the effects of understeer and oversteer counterbalance each other.